Nominal: Starting with an entrance exam for a PhD in Economics at Peking University

Other officials and businesspeople in the conference room also realized the situation and, thinking it better to sacrifice a friend than themselves, began to urge the meeting to proceed.

Zheng Xipo pretended to be an intellectual every day, but he didn't learn the integrity of intellectuals; instead, he learned their weakness perfectly.

Normally, he only dared to say a few words because of Chen Yanshi's influence, but now, with so many leaders watching him and surrounded by calls of "urging," his mind had completely gone blank.

His face was deathly pale, his lips trembled, and under the pressure of countless gazes, he finally knelt down beside Chen Yanshi with trembling hands and with extreme slowness.

While continuing to press, Qi Tongwei "professionally" instructed: "Yes, kneel down next to Old Man Chen. Pinch his nose with one hand and lift his chin with the other to open his airway... Yes, like that, put your mouth on it and blow air!"

Zheng Xipo's face drew closer and closer, and the unique scent of old age emanating from Chen Yanshi, a mixture of medicinal smell and the smell of old age, wafted over him. His lips almost touched Chen Yanshi's dry, chapped lips...

At that very moment—

"Uh...ha..."

Chen Yanshi let out a muffled groan, his eyelids twitched violently a few times, and finally, with difficulty, slowly opened his eyes.

Qi Tongwei stopped what he was doing with a hint of regret: "Mr. Chen, you fainted from being too excited. Luckily, you're alright. The doctor will give you a thorough check-up when he arrives."

Who among us isn't a shrewd person? Chen Yanshi's "perfectly timed" awakening—who couldn't guess he was faking it?

But over the years, Chen Yanshi has been going around "seeking justice for others" and reporting crimes everywhere. No one present likes him or sympathizes with him.

At this moment, everyone felt that this old guy was taking advantage of his age and trying to extort money from people.

Everyone looked at Qi Tongwei, whose expression had returned to normal:

That's a ruthless person.

Chapter 108 Action

Jingzhou, the First People's Hospital of Handong Province.

The ward for high-ranking officials was so quiet that you could hear the medicine dripping from the IV tube.

After dealing with the doctor's routine check-up and dismissing the staff from the Veteran Cadre Bureau who had come to offer their condolences, Chen Yanshi wearily lay back on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the patterns on the ceiling.

Wang Fuzhen, the old woman's husband, sat on the edge of the bed, peeling an apple that someone had given her as a token of appreciation. The blade made a rhythmic swishing sound as it cut through the peel.

"How old are you? Why are you still trying to show off like this?" Wang Fuzhen finally couldn't help but speak, her voice full of resentment. "Now look what's happened, you've lost face so badly, how embarrassing will it sound if word gets out?"

Chen Yanshi didn't speak, he just stared at the ceiling.

Wang Fuzhen placed the peeled apple on the bedside table and sighed, "Xiao Hai is now in the procuratorate, doing anti-corruption work, which is inherently a job that offends people. It's one thing if you don't help him, but you're making enemies for him everywhere. If you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your son, and your grandson Xiao Piqiu!"

As she spoke, her voice choked up: "Things aren't like they were decades ago now; you should change your bad temper."

"Back then, you stubbornly opposed Qi Tongwei and Yangyang's marriage. How could they not hold a grudge against you? They just criticized Xiaohai at the meeting the day before yesterday. Instead of avoiding it, you insisted on walking into the line of fire..." She wiped her eyes and couldn't continue.

Annoyed by the nagging, Chen Yanshi finally spoke, his voice dry: "Long hair, short brains. If it weren't for Xiao Hai and Xiao Piqiu's future, would I, at my age, need to go out and show my face in public?"

Wang Fuzhen turned her head, her eyes red, and glared at him: "You did this for Xiaohai? I think you did it for yourself! You've retired, you have no power, no one flatters you anymore, and you can't stand it! You moved to that private nursing home just so that someone would come to you every day to complain and fawn over you? You have fame and people who flatter you! You've been retired for almost twenty years, and you've been meddling in other people's business for twenty years. Was any of it really for Xiaohai?"

Chen Yanshi was hit where it hurt, and a hint of embarrassment flashed across his face. He explained, "Let's not talk about the past, but this time I really did it for Xiao Hai."

Wang Fuzhen turned her back and remained silent.

The ward was quiet for a moment.

Chen Yanshi sighed and lowered his voice: "This time it's really different. Qi Tongwei... I misjudged him. He's really lucky. This time he criticized Chen Hai without any mercy. He said it to that extent. With his current status, even if he doesn't give specific instructions, as long as he's in Handong and doesn't change his mind, those people who want to curry favor with him will find ways to make things difficult for Xiao Hai."

He paused, his voice growing deeper: "Chen Hai is forty-three this year and still a deputy director-general. Qi Tongwei will serve another term in Handong, making it six years in total. By then, Xiao Hai will be forty-nine—if he's still a deputy director-general, he can at most achieve the treatment of a director-general before retirement. If Qi Tongwei serves two terms... he'll have a hard time even becoming a director-general."

Chen Yanshi closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again, his expression complex: "In my life, I didn't live to see the deputy minister. I won't see Little Rubber Ball, but Chen Hai... must get into the ministry."

Wang Fuzhen turned around, tears welling up again: "It's all your fault! If I had agreed to his marriage with Yangyang back then, Qi Tongwei could have helped Xiaohai, and Yangyang wouldn't have had an unhappy marriage and stayed in Beijing without coming back... How long has it been since I've seen my daughter?"

Chen Yanshi snorted coldly: "If Qi Tongwei hadn't gotten incredibly lucky and married the daughter of a high-ranking official in Beijing because of his pretty boy looks, where would he be today?"

This is the obstacle of perception.

Chen Yanshi, believing that family background could boost one's career, naturally attributed Qi Tongwei's achievements to marriage, ignoring his own abilities and methods.

People who sleep in the same bed can't become two different kinds of people. Wang Fuzhen had also fueled the fire in Qi Tongwei and Chen Yang's affair back then—otherwise, Chen Yang wouldn't have disappeared with her too. She didn't dwell on that topic, instead asking:

"So what good did your public outburst at Qi Tongwei's place do for Xiao Hai?"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Chen Yanshi's eyes: "He's in the procuratorate now. Although the provincial procuratorate is under the dual leadership of the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the provincial party committee, everyone knows that the power of personnel appointments lies with the provincial party committee. With Xiao Hai's quiet and hardworking nature, how could he get into a ministry without the favor of the provincial party committee leaders?"

“Gao Yuliang is about to retire. Without his protection, and with Qi Tongwei's prejudice against Xiao Hai… How can I not find him a new backer? That donkey of a brain of his, how could he possibly think of such things!”

Wang Fuzhen complained, "Isn't this all your fault? Back then, you were so focused on getting promoted that you neglected your child's education. He didn't learn anything else, but he took your pretentious facade seriously and that's how he turned out like this..."

Chen Yanshi waved his hand: "We only had Chen Hai when we were over forty. What have you spoiled him like? I want to teach him, but would you let me? Trying to carve a swan will only result in a duck, and trying to draw a tiger will only result in a dog. You should be secretly happy that he's become what he is now by learning my superficial skills. If he learns the inner qualities... he might accidentally become a spoiled brat like the Zhao or Liang families, and you'll have nowhere to cry!"

He paused, then sighed, "And what's the point of saying all this now? He's forty-three already, his values ​​are already set."

Wang Fuzhen became anxious: "What should we do? Isn't the newly appointed provincial party secretary, Sha Ruijin, Old Wang's adopted son? Should we go and talk to Old Wang and ask him to look after Xiaohai?"

Chen Yanshi shook his head: "If it weren't to get in touch with Sha Ruijin, why would I go to see Qi Tongwei?"

"What does finding Sha Ruijin have to do with Qi Tongwei?"

"Do you think Sha Ruijin is still the same little Jinzi who used to beg for candy from you?" Chen Yanshi smiled bitterly. "We haven't been in touch for so many years, he doesn't even recognize Chen Hai. I don't even have his phone number—we're just poor relatives who are practically begging for favors, why would he bother with me?"

Wang Fuzhen was stunned: "Then...what should we do?"

Chen Yanshi sat up straighter, a calculating glint in his eyes, and lowered his voice even further: "The sudden appointment of a provincial party secretary, a discipline inspection secretary, and a governor-designate from above means there's bound to be a major move in Handong. Such a major move, besides economic development, would likely involve personnel adjustments. Handong's economy has always been strong... so it can only be a personnel reshuffle."

He licked his chapped lips and continued, "In terms of personnel, the Zhao family currently holds the most power in Handong. Only the Zhao family is worthy of such a grand display."

"By using Dafeng Factory to keep pressing Zhao Ruilong's Shanshui Group and deliberately making a scene at the meeting, I'm completely breaking ties with the Zhao family. In the future, no matter whether Sha Ruijin wants to take action against the Handa Gang or the Secretary Gang... this is the best entry point. Chen Hai can also take advantage of the situation and become the sharpest knife in Sha Ruijin's hand."

Chen Yanshi knew his son all too well. Chen Hai and Hou Liangping did indeed have somewhat similar personalities—both were somewhat ruthless in pursuing their goals. If Chen Hai hadn't become a vegetable in their previous life, Hou Liangping wouldn't have gotten that opportunity.

Although Tian Guofu, the provincial discipline inspection commission secretary, tried his best to curry favor with Sha Ruijin, Sha Ruijin's position was too high. Tian was both a dependent and a collaborator.

And the position of Anti-Corruption Bureau Chief... is just right.

……

Qi Tongwei stood by the window, looking at the endless stream of cars on the street below.

He also had his eye on that position.

So he took the opportunity of defending Gao Yuliang to severely criticize Chen Hai. But at this point, he couldn't place his own people there—that would arouse Gao Yuliang's vigilance and dissatisfaction.

Therefore, even though Ding Yizhen's death and Chen Hai's dereliction of duty were facts, he did not use them as an excuse to transfer Chen Hai from his post.

Transferring him at this point would simply replace him with someone else, and wouldn't solve the problem.

Let the bullets fly a little longer.

As for Chen Yanshi? He's a retired department head, and he doesn't care at all.

Gao Yuliang once said, "It's not surprising that Chen Yanshi can contact any high-ranking leader," but Qi Tongwei didn't care—it was as if he couldn't contact them.

As for the relationship between Chen Yanshi and Sha Ruijin? He didn't care anymore.

In Handong Province, Sha Ruijin was the top official, wielding far more power than the future governor. However, in terms of connections, the governor was superior to Sha Ruijin.

Moreover, Sha Ruijin is fifty-nine years old, while Qi Tongwei is only forty-seven—his future is clearly much brighter than Sha Ruijin's.

Therefore, their positions were roughly equal: Qi Tongwei had to respect Sha Ruijin's power, while Sha Ruijin had to respect his "status".

Currently, the relationship between Chen Yanshi and Sha Ruijin is a secret, and no one knows about it.

Therefore, Qi Tongwei's criticism of Chen Yanshi did not offend Sha Ruijin. Even if Chen Yanshi loudly proclaimed this relationship at the meeting, Qi Tongwei did not care.

Ignorance is no excuse!

He is not Li Dakang.

Li Dakang was astute—he could also see that Sha Ruijin's move was to make a fuss about personnel—either Gao Yuliang or Li Dakang himself; he couldn't possibly wipe out the entire officialdom of Handong.

Therefore, he showed absolute obedience to Sha Ruijin, and even stood in the Dafeng Factory all night waiting for Sha Ruijin to get up.

However, if Sha Ruijin met Chen Yanshi as soon as he arrived in Handong, then as the saying goes, "even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner," Qi Tongwei would naturally not openly criticize Chen Yanshi—that would be slapping Sha Ruijin in the face.

However, Qi Tongwei had already criticized Chen Yanshi without Qi's knowledge. It was Sha Ruijin who needed to carefully choose his relationship with Chen Yanshi, because if he didn't handle it properly, he would be slapping Qi Tongwei in the face.

Therefore, even if Chen Yanshi didn't come today, Qi Tongwei would still take the initiative to learn about the situation of Dafeng Factory during the subsequent investigation and then publicly criticize Chen Yanshi.

This gives them the upper hand, leaving the difficult problem to Sha Ruijin.

Don't let that old thing jump around anymore.

First, subdue Chen Yanshi, then persuade Gao Yuliang to inherit the Han University gang, and finally eliminate Chen Hai, thus taking control of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

After a moment's thought, Qi Tongwei dialed the phone number of Wu Chunlin, the Minister of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Qi Tongwei got to the point: "Minister Chunlin, you may have heard about today's on-site meeting. Comrade Chen Yanshi has been retired for many years and has forgotten about Party discipline. He made some inappropriate remarks at the meeting."

Wu Chunlin immediately understood on the other end of the phone: "Governor Qi, I understand. The older comrade has been retired for a long time, and he is not sure of some boundaries."

"I understand, but we still need to remind him." Qi Tongwei's tone was calm, but carried an undeniable air of authority. "The Organization Department can arrange for the Bureau of Veteran Cadres and the Party School to send staff to Comrade Chen Yanshi's home to provide him with Party discipline education. After all, this veteran comrade has worked for the revolution for many years, and we cannot stand by and watch him make mistakes."

Wu Chunlin understood immediately—the first on-site meeting of the soon-to-be governor was being pointed at by a retired cadre who was taking advantage of his seniority. What was wrong with legally and compliantly "reminding" the old man?

"Yes, Governor Qi, I'll arrange it right away."

Qi Tongwei paused, then asked seemingly casually, "By the way, isn't there a section chief in the Bureau of Retired Cadres named Liang Jin?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Wu Chunlin's voice came through, calm and steady: "Yes, Governor Qi. Comrade Liang Jin has worked in the Veteran Cadre Service Department for many years and is quite familiar with the situation of veteran comrades. I think it is appropriate for him to participate in this work."

"Okay, hard work."

The phone hangs up.

Qi Tongwei put down the microphone and tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth mahogany table surface.

In Qi Tongwei's view, the matter involving Chen Yanshi and Liang Jin was nothing more than a minor incident that happened on a whim.

There is something more important to push forward right now—he needs to put enough pressure on Gao Yuliang to speed up the process of handing over power.

Teacher Gao today is much like those aging emperors who still cling to power and refuse to let go, always wanting to control everything until the very last moment.

But Qi Tongwei didn't want to wait any longer, nor could he afford to wait.

A violent coup like Li Shimin's at Xuanwu Gate would be too tumultuous and have many consequences, and is not something a wise person would choose.

Historically, there was another, more "respectable" way—forcing a foreign enemy to step down.

Just like at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, when the Jin army was at the gates of the city, Emperor Huizong of Song had no choice but to hastily abdicate in favor of Emperor Qinzong.